There’s at least one coach who doesn’t have complaints about his team’s schedule during the dreaded stretch of the season leading up to the All-Star break. 

The NBA did Portland coach and Denver native Chauncey Billups a small favor by giving his team back-to-back games against the Nuggets on Friday and Sunday. 

“This is pretty unique here. You get to be here for three or four straight days,” Billups said prior to the Nuggets’ 120-108 win. “I got a lot of family I can go see, spend some time with my folks – pretty cool.” 

Despite his current role, the “King of Park Hill” and a Nugget from 1999-2000 and 2008-11 enjoyed seeing his former team win its first championship last summer. 

“I was so happy for the Nuggets and for the city, you know, for the fanbase. I mean, I was once here trying to do that and bring that championship to the city as a Nugget. So, for them to get over the hump like that, I was just happy and proud. I was proud of them. The best team won. I thought they were the most-connected group. Obviously, Joker, Jamal and those guys, they just earned it,” Billups said. 

“I was very proud to see them bring that title home to Denver.” 

Billups’ current squad still looks a few years away from having a chance to compete for the franchise’s second championship, but there’s plenty of potential. Portland went 27-55 in Billups’ first season and drafted the high-flying Shaedon Sharp, who missed Friday’s game with an abdominal strain, with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 Draft.

The Trail Blazers improved by six wins in Billups’ second season and drafted Scoot Henderson, a 20-year-old guard who led all scorers in the first of Portland’s back-to-back games in Denver with 30 points on 15 shots, with the third overall pick last summer. Of the team’s top six scorers, only Jerami Grant (27) and Malcolm Brogdon (31) are older than 25. Portland’s led by Anfernee Simons, an electric 24-year-old scorer who dropped 26 of his 29 points in the second half of Friday’s game. 

“They’ve got a lot of young players mixed with some really good veterans. It’s a challenge, but I think Chauncey … as a coach, you can only use what’s available to you. I think Simons being healthy, along with all the other players, they have a chance to be a competitive team, and you’ve seen that recently,” Malone said. 

“They have talent across the board. These are going to be two tough games against Portland at home.” 

The Trail Blazers came to Denver 5-5 in their last 10 games following consecutive wins over Philadelphia and Milwaukee, a dramatic victory in Damian Lillard’s return to Portland. 

“I just feel like we’ve been building on our consistency and how we’ve been wanting to play,” Billups said. “Obviously, that game was a really big deal. It was a big win for us, but I just feel like we’ve continued to be focused on what we’re trying to do. Andwe’re starting to get some consistency there.” 

It’s helped that Simons is back after tearing a ligament in his thumb in Portland’s season opener, an injury that required surgery and held him out for roughly six weeks. Henderson missed multiple weeks during that same stretch with an ankle injury, while Sharpe hasn’t played since Jan. 11. That’s made for a challenging start to Billups’s third season leading the rebuilding franchise. Portland’s second from bottom in the Western Conference with a 15-34 record after Friday’s loss. As tough as it’s been, it’s always good for the former star at George Washington High School and the University of Colorado to get back to the Mile High City. 

“Man, it’s always great being back in Denver. It’s my hometown. All my family still lives here. Offseason, I’m here often, too,” Billups said. 

“Always going to be my home. I’m always happy to be back.” 

Chauncey Billups career highlights 

Three-time Colorado Mr. Basketball at George Washington High School 

Second team All-American at University of Colorado 

No. 3 overall pick in 1997 NBA Draft 

NBA champion and Finals MVP for Detroit Pistons in in 2004 

Five-time NBA All-Star 

Helped the Nuggets reach Western Conference finals in 2009

Named coach of Portland Trail Blazers on June 27, 2021